Sand Challenge 2008

Since the late 1920's Oceanside has been blessed with The Strand. During that period of time it has let us document how wide our beaches have been. Now in July of 2008 we can see the past reoccurring as it does often times. I put a number if images up show you back in the 60's when the surf lapped on the Northern most portion of The Strand. It has happened in the late seventies and to some degree about every ten years.

The Federal Government has taken responsibility for clearing our harbor channel since the 1960's and has dredged millions of cubic yards of sand directly onto our beaches usually between the Pier and Wisconsin Street. Dredging this year made a noticeable improvement in the area South of the Pier and short of Wisconsin Street and almost ever bit of the material has now gone into the surf line, under water. Today's photos show that the surf broke on The Strand and deposited sand. This is an ominous sign for our future. It shows we are not replacing enough sand in order to protect The Stand and homes next to it. This erosion is predictable and if action is taken quickly we can avoid all of the dire consequences. I hope our City officials are doing everything they can to keep this from happening. If you question this just ask anyone who has been here for more than thirty years.

How to tell our Story at the 101 Cafe

Early on I learned that in order to get exposure for a retail business it was important to seek help in the media through PR. It doesn't take long to learn that when you attach the term PR to media you have found a no cost way of exposing your business, group or community. I attached a few photos that were in International, regional and local magazines or calendars and did not attempt to list all of them. I found it very help full to offer the media some trade offs in order to get what some think is my unfair exposure. I am a third generation Oceansider who is well versed in local history, business and politics so I have much to offer and it helps believe me. I have used my self taught skills in PR for all the projects I have taken on in our community. I am proud of my 'Shameless Self Promoter' moniker because I really promote my business, my non profit groups and my community which makes it a lot less self-centered than it sounds. Maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to put a few of my TV appearances online. It will probably take the help of a twelve year old to do it. Part of my drive is to keep the 101 Cafe going for its second eighty years. You may have noticed it is the oldest business in Oceanside and the oldest Cafe on Highway 101 on the entire West Coast. Oops there I go promoting again. Stay Cool.

Memories

When I read that Dorothy Satten had died I remember a photo in the Oceanside Historical Society's archives. It was donated years ago by Randy Mitchell and was of the Opening of the New Bridge Motor Inn on Highway 101 in Oceanside. The 1965 image included one of my classmates at Oceanside High School Barbara Mandrell . Barbara was Miss Oceanside in 1965 and as most of us know she was a Country Mega Star. From left to right in the photo are; Jerome Jones, City Councilman and eventually Mayor, Dorothy Satten, Barbara Mandrell, her husband Frank Satten and Harold Andrews, the builder.
The Bridge still stands, but is being planned for a multi-storied hotel in the future. Until then you can still eat at Dorothy's restaurant, the Flying Bridge. While she has not owned it for many years most of the old timers think of her when they think of the restaurant.
I wish I could tell you more about Dorothy, but I never even met her, my loss.
One of the best parts of staying in your community like I have is all the memories that surround you. I am a lucky guy.

What an Incredible Day

I could not get enough when I walked this morning. Even cruising on Oceanside Blvd. on the way to work the Moon showcased what an incredible day it would be. So clear even after yesterday where the overcast cooled the sun in the afternoon. I hopped on my beach cruiser and headed down Wisconsin Street from the 101. I get an ocean view as soon as I look West and cruise down to The Strand. The first picture is of my beach at the bottom of my hill. Since this was late most of our regular surfers had already gone to work so few got to enjoy this days waves. I found only a few enjoying Swings at the Pier, picture two. It is always cool to see the Moms and their three wheelers exercising along The Strand, but it warms my heart to see Dads, picture three. I guess I am jealous of them since the only three wheelers around when my kids were small were either motorcycles of old folks bikes. And of course there were many fishermen at the beach today. Today is going to be tough to stay at work.

Warm Summer Days are upon Us

The beach is filling up with visitors. More each day and its the June Gloom month wait until the real heat begins. Everything tells us that this will be a great visitor season for our guest. It is the time to check out the suits along the Famous Strand where Tom Cruise rode his motorcycle up to the now highly recognized Top Gun House on Pacific Street. Don't forget sunscreen.

Woodies find their way to the 101 Cafe

Woodies at the Cafe are not an unusual sight, but it is always exciting for our guest to see them. These reject station wagons of days gone by have found a place in the visual landscape of the California Surf Culture and have made their owner's the elite of the road. The surf connection was strongest in the fifties and sixties when surfers used these inexpensive used wagons to haul their long boards. Bruce Brown's epic Surf Movies including 'The Endless Summer' emblazoned the wood sided cars as a surf vehicles in our minds. Now wherever they cruise they are noticed in a big way. The 101 Cafe has been a part of the Woodie's heritage since 1928 when the Model A was massed produced. From the beginning, these were specialty vehicles used for many reasons including hauling guest from trains and to resorts. Maybe you will see or bring a Woodie to the Cafe and make us happy.

We are blessed to have the Greatest Woodie Show in the country just off the Historic Highway 101 in Encinitas, Wavecrest . Make a point to check out the coolest cars on the Coast September 20th. If you check them all out you may get 'Wood Burn'.

Blessing or Curse at the 101 Cafe

The 101 Cafe is 80 years old this year. It is not hard to imagine that it must have been painted maybe 15 or twenty times in its life on the 101. For the last twenty years we have either painted or touch up every year for the twenty years David and I have owned it. In the beginning we hired or traded food for painting, but in the last ten I have been mainly responsible for the bright white walls surrounding the Cafe. I have come to learn that no matter what season I paint the sun will come out and beat down on me. Today is a perfect example. This morning was the beginning of the perfect(yuk) June gloom day. After yesterday's gloom which included light showers and drizzle I never even gave a thought to today being a Hot Sunny Day. I guess you can thank me for the sun, because if I choose not to paint the gloom probably would have continued all day. I guess the San Diego Chamber of Commerce will hope I paint all week so the US Open at Torrey Pines will have the 'Perfect Chamber of Commerce Weather'. Call me if you need sun at least along the 101. Check out the perfect blue sky and surf right down the street from the Cafe